Open a file from Remote Network Share in Xamarin UWP application

Question

Is there any way to open a file from Remote Network Share in Xamarin UWP Application. ?

We tried with Xamarin File Picker, but it includes user to select the file.

private void OpenFile()
{
    FileData fileData = await CrossFilePicker.Current.PickFile();
    string fileName = fileData.FileName;
    string contents = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(fileData.DataArray);
 }

We want that If the user clicks on the Path then the file will display in a Read Mode.

Answer 1

Is there any way to open a file from Remote Network Share in Xamarin UWP Application. ?

UWP has provided broadFileSystemAccess capability to access broader file with APIs in the Windows.Storage namespace. You need add the restricted broadFileSystemAccess capability before access.

<Package
  ...
  xmlns:rescap="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/foundation/windows10/restrictedcapabilities"
  IgnorableNamespaces="uap mp rescap">

...
<Capabilities>
    <rescap:Capability Name="broadFileSystemAccess" />
</Capabilities>

If you want to get the file in the .NET Standard, you need create a DependencyService.

Create file access interface in your .NET Standard.

IFileAccess

public interface IFileAccess
 {
     Task<FileData> GetFileStreamFormPath(string Path);
 }
 public class FileData
 {
     public byte[] DataArray { get; set; }
     public string FileName { get; set; }
     public string FilePath { get; set; }
 }

Implement IFileAccess interface in native UWP project.

FileAccessImplementation

[assembly: Xamarin.Forms.Dependency(typeof(FileAccessImplementation))]
namespace App6.UWP
{
    public class FileAccessImplementation : IFileAccess
    {
        public async Task<FileData> GetFileStreamFormPath(string Path)
        {
            var file = await StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(Path);
            byte[] fileBytes = null;
            if (file == null) return null;
            using (var stream = await file.OpenReadAsync())
            {
                fileBytes = new byte[stream.Size];
                using (var reader = new DataReader(stream))
                {
                    await reader.LoadAsync((uint)stream.Size);
                    reader.ReadBytes(fileBytes);
                }
            }

            var FileData = new FileData()
            {
                FileName = file.Name,
                FilePath = file.Path,
                DataArray = fileBytes
            };
            return FileData;
        }
    }
}

Usage

var file = DependencyService.Get<IFileAccess>().GetFileStreamFormPath(@"\\remote\folder\setup.exe");